Boxes



BOXES A. SCHMERMUND Dec. 29, 1964 Filed March 2l, 1960 Dec. 29, 1964 A. scHMERMUND BOXES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed MaIOh 21, 1960 INVENTOR ALF/PED SCHM//UND.

ATTORNEY) Dec. 29, 1964 A. scHMERMUND 3,163,348

BoxEs Filed March 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 14M FE SCH/WERMU/VD ATTORNEY) BeC-29, 1954 v A. scHMl-:RMUND 3,163,348

BoxEs Filed March 21, 1960 4 sheets-sheet 4 xzwmfrmm edv sarna-suman? INVENTOR ATTORNEY) to an improved snap action.

United States Patent ld BXES Alti-ed Sehmermund, Maehinenfabrik Alfred Schmerrnund, Gevelsberg, Westphalia, Germany Filed Mar. 21, 196), Ser. No. 16,437 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-44) one or more suita ly cut blanks on fully automatic packing machines.

A cardboard box for cigarettes and the like and cornprising a hap-like lid and a body portion has been proposed, wherein the lid is rotatable about an axis having a distance from the adjacent edge of the open endof the body portion which is smaller than the distance of the said axis from the opposite wall of the body portion, whereby when the lid is turned about the axis for opening or closing the box a point of the lid opposite the said axis describes an arc which intersects the edge at the open end ot the body portion and opposite the said axis,l

whereby a snap action of the lid is intended to be obtained.

However, only an imperfect snap action is obtained since on closing the lid the snap action occurs too early and terminates too early. Thus before the lid is cornpletely closed, snap action is not present, with the result that a gap is likely to form between the lid and the body portion. To avoid this disadvantage, it has been suggested to provide small punched out tongues at the inside of the body part for Wedging laterally against portions of the lid. However, this arrangement does not fully overcome the disadvantagereferred to since the small tongues after a short time become bent and frayed and then only act as brakes but do not lead, as intended Other proposed embodiments do not provide a rotatable lid.

One such embodiment uses exclusively small punched out tongues for holding the lid in closed position; in another embodirnent a small punched out tongue slides under a correspondingly punched out recess.y rIhis last embodiment can no longer `be operated by one hand only of a user of the box. Also the punched out recess interrupts the front face of the box and thus disturbs the smooth appearance of the box. g

rThe present invention consists ina box comprisinga body portion and a lid attached thereto, the lidV being rotatable about an axis forvrclosing and opening the box,

the lid and the body portion having a complementary groove and rid Ue non-parallel to the said axis, the arrangement being such that when the lbox has been closed the said groove and ridge engage each other and hold Vthe box closed, while on rotation of the lid about the said axis for closing and opening the box the said groove and ridge approacheach other or recede from each while inclined' relatively to each other.

Preferably, two sets of ridges and grooves are provided, one set in adjacent side walls of the lid and the body portion. Reccsses may be provided in the body portion which extend from the open end of thebody portion for enabling a rotation of the lid substantially unimpeded by the edges of the body portion. Preferably, the

ice a in the body portion. The ridge or each ridge may be 3 formed by turning over an extended layer of material or embossing a layer of material of lthe lid. The body portion may comprise an outer layer and an inner layer protruding beyond the outer layer, the groove or each groove being formed by identing the said inner layer.

is advantageously made ot cardboard.

It will be seen that the lid of this invention is com-l' action while yet allowing the box to be easily opened.

To make the invention clearly understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example and in which:

, FIGURE l is a section through a cardboard cigarette box, the section being taken along the line I-I of FIG- URE 3;

` FIGURE 2 is a section along the line II-II of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view ofthe box of FIGURES 1 and 2; v

FIGURE 4 illustrates the locking box of FIGURE 2 on a larger scale taken at the location of the circle E of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modified locking mechanism; Y

- FIGURE 6 illustrates a further `modiiied locking mechanism;

FIGURE 7 illustrates a blank for making a cardboard cigarette box;

pointvltl, lill, lila or 162 respectively. The sidewalls ridge is provided in the lid and the groove is provided FIGURE S illustratesv a modified blank;

FIGURE 9 illustrates a further modihed blank; FIGURE 10 illustratesV a part ot a box nrade of. the blanket FIGURE 7, the box being closed;

FIGURE 1l illustrates a part of the box ofV FIG. the box being open;

FIGURE l2 illustrates a part of a box made ofthe blankor" FIGURES, the box being closed; l

FIGURE 13 illustrates a part 0f the box of FIGURE 12,'the box being open; Y A, Y

FIGURE 14 illustrates a part of aV box made of the lank of FIGURE 9, die box being open;

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a part of an open box; FIGURE 16 is a similar view of a modified box;

FIGURE 17 is a similar View of a further modified The iid if each or sie boxes or FIGURES .15, 16, 17v

and 18 is rotatable about an axis passing through the of the lid may be triangular or quadrangular; in each case the axis of rotation passes through, or closeto, a

corner of the side wall. Care has been taken `that the' corners of the body of the box which lie remote from the axis of rotation do not interfere `on rotation of the lidA with the wall of the lid remote from the said axis. For

this purpose, the body of the box at the said corners has recesses, Vsuch as 96, 88 and 97. However, if desired,A

these recesses could be omitted. Blanks for making these or similar boxes may be arrangedV in dilerent ways. Some such blankslare illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9; For example, the blanks of FIGS. 7 and 8 are suitable for boxes the lids of which have triangular side walls as in FIGURES 15, 16 and 18.

In FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, dashed lines indicate lines along which the blank is to be bent and thus corresponds Patented Dec. 25%, 1.954

The box mechanism of .the

View o f a au further modi-2 I d to .edges of the box. Thesurfaces Sa/b; 28a/b; and 4011/ b and 4311/ b may be employed for stiifening purposes or alternatively may be removed as Waste. The blank portions 12,24 and 49 form inserts -for the boxes, TheV recesses 16a/b; 46a/b; and 50a/b in the insert blanks correspond to recesses such as the recesses 96; 88; and 97 of the boxes shown in FIGURES 15, 16 and 1S for facilitating an unimpeded closing movement of the lids.

Within the lid of each box, ridges 99; 37; 98 or 89 respectively are provided (see FIGURES 15, 16, 17 and 18), the ridges lying against the side Walls of the lid. The ridges co-operate with complementary insert grooves formed by identations in the parts 94/95; 6E/86; 92/93; or 90/ 91 respectively.

Completed boxes are illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4, and. 6 in which the ridges at the interior of the ilap are indicated by reference numerals 61, 67 and 77 and the complementary grooves by reference numerals 60.-

The embodiment of FIGURES 13 and 17 has a particularly stiff lid since the side Walls of the lid are quadrangular. A blank for making a box with a lid of this kind is shown in FIGURE 9. Certain portions of the blank of FIGURE 9, such as 43a/b and 4de/b may be utilized or removed.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 18, the ridges 89 are formed by arcuating or bulging an inner layer of the lid n While in the embodiment of FIGURES 15, 16 and 17 Vthe ridges are formed by turning over an extended inner layer of the lid.

From FIGURES 4, 5 and 6Y it can be recognized by considering the parts 60, 61, 66, `67 and 76, 77 respectively that on moving the lid into its closing poistion a snap ac-tion occurs owing to the curvature of the parts at 60, 66 and 76, and the seating of the ridges or bulges 61, 67, and 77 in the grooves which correspond to the grooves such as shown at 94, 85, 92 and 90 in FIGURES 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively whereby the box can be securely kept closed, while the box can easily be opened since. after a slight movement 4of the lid in the opening direction the locking of the lid is removed.

In FIGURE 7 the insert shown at the left comprises a body -wall 12 having side flaps 14a and 14b secured theretoat foldrlines 14 and having attaching tabs 15a and h secured to the flaps `14aL and 14,1 byfold lin-es 15'. An under tab 13 is secured to wall 12 by fold line 13. The

wall 12 is recessed, at 17, and the walls 12, 14a and 14v are notched at 16a and y16lo similar to the recesses 96, SS and 97 above described. The front and back walls 1.b

and 1a of the main body are connected together by a bottom wall 2 folded at 1 and 2. Front'wall 1b has side tlaps 7a and 7b secured thereto along fold lines 7', and

` of FIGURE 7 `comprises a -top ap 3 connected on fold line 3 to body wall la, and a front ilap 4 is connected,

on fold line 4 to flap 3. A reinforcing tiap kS is connected at 5 to flap 4. The flaps 3 and 4 have triangular end aps 9a and 9b and 10a and 19h respectively, and the small flaps 11b provide the ridges or bulges S7, 98 and 99 above described.

In FIGURE 8 the insert has a body wall 24 connected to side flaps 26a and 26b by fold lines 26 and an under tab is secured to wall 24. The body wall 24 and the side flaps 26a and 26;b are notched or recessed at 46a and 46h corresponding to the recesses 16a and 16h above described and the top portion of the body Wall 24 is recessed similar to that at 17 at FIGURE 7. The main portion of the carton shown in FIGURE 8 comprises front and back walls 17a and 19 which are connected together by` a bottom wall 18 on fold lines 17 and 13. Front wall 17a is provided with side liaps 27a and 2.7b at fold lines 27 and the back wall 19 is provided with flaps 29l and correspond to the structure which forms the grooves at4 4, 29b at fold lines 29. Tabs 29@ and 29b are provided with stitfener tabs 283 and 28b spaced at ZS from the other iiaps. The cover of the blank of FIGURE 8 comprises flaps 29, 21, 22 and 23 and triangular shaped end aps 30a-36h secured to ilap 21 and triangular iaps 3l2L and 31h secured to tlap 23. The end folding of the small strips or flaps 3-1 and 31 provide the ridges or bulges 87,

98 and 99 above described.

Referring to the form of invention shown in FIGURE 9, the insert portion to the left is identical to the insert described md shown in FIGURE 8 and comprises a body wall 49 with aps 47a, 47b and 48 secured along fold lines 47 and 43'; the recesses 56a and 50h corresponding to the recesses 16- and 161 of FIGURE 7. The main body front and back walls 33 and 35 are provided with aps and tabs similar to the body portion of the form of invention shown in FIGURE 8 and comprise flaps 391 and 39h connected along fold lines 39 to wall 33 and reinforcing flap 32 connected along fold line 33'. The bottom wall 34 is connected along fold lines 34' and 35 to walls 33 and 35 and the latter is provided With side aps 41a and 41h connected along fold lines 41. Flaps 41a and 41h at their lower ends have stiftener aps 46a and 46h spaced at 4d. VThe closure portion of the form of invention in FIGURE 9 comprises a lid back wall 45 connected along fold line 45 to the wall 35 which is provided at its endsrwith flaps 42a and 42h connected along fold lines to the back wall i5 and which are provided with ridge fiaps 42 and 42 connected along fold lines as shown in FIGURE 9; these ridge flaps providing the ridges corresponding to the bulges 37, 98 and 99 above described. Flaps 43a and 43h are also provided, adapted to be secured, when the cover is assembled, to the under side of what constitutes the top wall 36 of the cover whenV assembled. This top wall 36 of the covers is connected along fold line 37 tot what constitutes the front wall 37 of 'the closure. The wall 37 has end aps 44 and 44,b connected along fold lines 44 and which receive the tabs 42a and 42h at the innerside thereof so that the ridge tabs 42 and 42 will be properly positioned. The tabs 43a and 43h are glued to the under surface of the topV wall 36. A reinforcing tab 38 is provided on the front wall 37 secured along fold line 3S thereto. g

It will be noted from the assemblages shown in the different views, and particularly FIGURES 13, 14, 17 and 18 that when the insert portions shown in FIGURES 7,

8 and 9V at the left are inserted in the wall structure of A tion of the container.

In FIGURES 4 and 5, 61 `and 67 correspond to the ridges 42 in FIGURE 9 and ridges 87, 93 and 99 of FIG- VURES 16, 17 and 15 respectively. The grooves caused by curvature at 60, 66Y and 67 of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 94, 35, 92 and 99 Of FIGURES 15, 16, 17 and 18. 'The walls 69, 68 and 79 of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 correspond Y to the aps'42a and 42b of FIGURE 9; the walls 6.3, 65 and 73 correspond to the front flaps 37 of FIGURE 9, and the end flaps 71 and Si) ofk FIGURES 5 and 6 correspond toy the flaps 44si and 44b of FIGURE 9. The

iiaps 69, 68 and 79 of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 correspond' to the flaps 47a and 47lo of FIGURE 9 and the walls k64,

7-2 and 81 of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 correspond to theV back wall 35 of FIGURE 9.

The snap action and locking features of this invention It will be noted that as the closure g are very important. or cover is brought initially to a closing position, the bulges or ridges 61, 67 and 77 as shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 and the ridges as shownin FIGURES l5 and 16 will override the curved portions 60, 66, 76, 26 and 95,

alessia position t'ne iront r" p or wall or" tbe closure, due to tbe recessing at loa and ddh; A and 95 and 8S oi the various forms of the invention, W'll enable tbe upwardly extending prongs of front Wall of tbe insert to bend inwardly slightly. As the closure is brought to a still further closing position and only villen die sarr fully closed will tbe ridges or bulges el, o7, 93 snap into position in Aie grooves formen by c portions at the corners of tbe insert, thus tbe snap action and etective locking of the closme in fully elo-sed position. The locking is edective just prior to the lid reaching its end closed position and remains in locked position completely closed against accidental opening to any degree whatsoever until the user opens the lid or closure. As a rnatter of tact tbe ridges or bulges push against the portions 615, 6o and iti in tbis position.

What I clairn is:

l. A box construction for receiving cigarettes or lil. articles comprising a body portion including iront, rear, side and bottom Walls and a chamber with an open top, the upper ends of said side Walls of the body portion being provided with external vertical grooves Vinset from the norrnal plane thereof, a closure hingh y connected to ltbe back Wall of the body portion including top, side and iront Walls, and side Walls which at the inner surfaces thereof are provided with inwardly projecting ridges, means adapted to snap into said grooves as tlie closure is being brought to about a iinally shut position on said box with a locking action in said grooves tending to urge tbe projecting rneans against the edges of said grooves to prevent any accidental opening yor the closure upon tbe body portion. f

2. A box as described in claim 1 in which tbe iront Wall of the body portion at the top thereof is yieldably flexible in a plane forwardly of said grooves whereby as the closure is hingedly rnoved to an initial closed position upon the body portionV the said flexible portion will engage the inner surface of the front Wall of the closure and be ilexed inwardly in frictional engagement with the closure.

3. A box of relatively stiff material comprising a polygonal shaped niain body portion provided with a chamber therein having a top opening thereto and including a back Wall, bottom Wall, side Walls and a front Wall, the upper end or" the front wall being yieldably flexible inwardly so that it can return to normal position, a polygonal shaped closure cap bingedly connected to tbe bodyV at the inner side tbereor" adapted `to lock in tbe groove v o said side Wall when the closure is completely shut upon said body portion whereby the closure cannot be accidentally opened and can only be opened through the use of sorne manual lifting force.

' 4. The box as described in clairn 3 in which both side Walls of the body portion are provided with the said exterior grooves and in which both side Walls of the closure are provided with elongated ridges inwardly projecting and adapted to lock respectively in said grooves when the closure is completely shut upon the body portion.

5. The box of claim 4 in which the upper end of the front Wall of the body portion is laterally disconnected from the upper ends of the adjacent body side Walls to enable inward exible bendingv of the top Wall of the body portion as the front Wall of the cap engages and rides over the upper end of the front Wall of the body portion when the cap is moved to a closing position, tbe grooves in the side Walls or" the body portion being constructed and arranged with respect to the ridges of tbe side Walls of the closure so that as the closure is brought to an initial closing position it will ride over the connected corners of the side walls and front wall of the body portion then as tbe closure is brought to a inal closing position said ridges will snap into position into lie grooves of tbe side Walls of -tne body portion inwardly iront connected corners of theront wall and side walls of tbe bodyportion to lool; the closure in completely shut position against accidental opening.

6. A bon or relatively still material adapted to contain having a top opening thereto, said body portion including a baci: Wall, sidewalls, a front Wall and a bottom Wall, the upper portion of tbe front Wellbeing exible inwardly so that it can spring back into normal position, a closure cap hingedly connected to the body portion back wall and including a top wall, side walls and va front wall, said side Y' and front Walls being constructed to exteriorly overlie the side and front walls of the body portion, the side Walls of the body portion at the opening at the top wall being provided with upright elongated grooves facing outwardly and located immediately adjacent to the front Wall but slightly spaced fro'n the plane of the body front Wall, and tbe side walls of the closure being provided with upright internally projecting ridges spaced slightly from the inner surface of front Wall of tbe closure and in such relative position that as tbe closure is moved t-o a closing position upon the body portion said ridges `will ride in complementary relation over the corners of the side walls or the body and snap into tbe grooves of the side Walls of theV body portion as lsaid closure is moved to a completely shut position, tbe iront walls of the body and closure bearing such a relation to each other that as thek closure is being shut the front wall thereof will inwardlyflex the having a top opening thereto, said body portion including a bacia Wall, side walls, a front Wall and a bottom Wall, a.

losure cap hingedly connected to the body portion back wall and including a top Wall, side Walls and a front wall, said side and iront Walls being constructed to exteriorly overlie tbe side and front walls of the body pontion, the side walls or the body portion at the opening at the top wall being provided with upright elongated grooves facing outwardly and located immediately adjacent to tbe front Wall but slightly spaced from the plane of the body iront wall, and the side walls of the closure being provided with upright internally; projecting ridges spaced slightly from tb inner surf.. i such relative position tbat as the closure is nioved to a Vclosing position upon the body portion said ridges will ride in complementary' relation over the corners of the side walls or" the body and snap into the grooves of the side walls of the body portion as said closure is moved to a completely shut position.

eerenees Sited by tbeEXanriner UNiTED STATES PATENTS K rnANKLrN r. Gangart, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, THERON E. CONDON,l

. Y i -ExrzmrzesV e of front Wall of vthe closure and in i 

1. A BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RECEIVING CIGARETTES OR LIKE ARTICLES COMPRISING A BODY PORTION INCLUDING FRONT, REAR, SIDE AND BOTTOM WALLS AND A CHAMBER WITH AN OPEN TOP, THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID SIDE WALLS OF THE BODY PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH EXTERNAL VERTICAL GROOVES INSET FROM THE NORMAL PLANE THEREOF, A CLOSURE HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE BACK WALL OF THE BODY PORTION INCLUDING TOP, SIDE AND FRONT WALLS, AND SIDE WALLS WHICH AT THE INNER SURFACES THEREOF ARE PROVIDED WITH INWARDLY PROJECTING RIDGES, MEANS ADAPTED TO SNAP INTO SAID GROOVES AS THE CLOSURE IS BEING BROUGHT TO ABOUT A FINALLY SHUT POSITION ON SAID BOX WITH A LOCKING ACTION IN SAID GROOVES TENDING TO URGE THE PROJECTING MEANS AGAINST THE EDGES OF SAID GROOVES TO 